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Come on, Nellie girl. Either I’m getting shorter, or you’re an even higher horse now than a couple of years ago. We’re going to start out slowly so we can enjoy the last days of Ind… no, no, last sunny days of late October. Nearly slipped there, sorry.
Up here on my high horse, I can see far and wide; I just can’t see up close and personal! This morning I needed a cleaning product I haven’t used in a while. It should have been easy; the instructions were right there on the back. It said “Directions” and “Caution” and “In case of emergency”. However, that’s as far as I could get, as the print was so small. It must have been important to have needed so many words, but for the life of me, it was illegible. Not only was it written in teensy print, it was on a blue background, which looked great as part of the label design, but not so good for actual people use. Disgusted, I gave up, guessed, and tossed in what should have been a goodly amount of cleaner, only to discover I’d used twice what I needed and had foaming mess everywhere.
Getting out the mop, I needed a new head on it. There are instructions on the handle for inserting the new one, but you have to hold the handle just right, force it down while still reading the next step of instructions, and then find the proper angle for inserting the new mop piece. The tiny arrows are supposed to be easy to see, and after doing it wrong the first time, I did find them. Water, soap, wet mop, bucket, all too much!
That led to a major headache, sending me for the aspirin container. It’s now a handy bottle with a lid almost like a little tap, so it’s easy for oldsters to remove. Obviously, the manufacturer is aware of seniors’ needs, right? I could see the tablets are extra strength, and there were 24 in the bottle. That was it! There are three lines of red lettering, sixteen in black, all in a tiny space of 2cm. (There is an equal amount of French writing, none of it decipherable). But wait, if I squint, there is one line I’d better try to see: Ah yes, “Read carton for important information before use.” Of course, the carton was tossed long ago. Dosage is listed on the bottle, so that will have to suffice. However, it’s in even smaller printing, so do I risk one pill or two? “Caution” gives blah, blah or something. However the website is in print I can see. It’s enough to give a person a headache right there.
No detail is left out on that little label: phone number, website, logo — even company address right down to postal code are easy to see — but the important stuff is relegated to miniscule print that contains life-altering cautionary admonitions too serious to overlook. “Do not take if…” should be in big print, right on the front. I suppose it’s some legal thing that makes it mandatory to list the risks, but if they are really serious shouldn’t they be in BIG print on the front of the bottle?
I’m going to dispense with the pills — too risky when the label doesn’t help me. I think instead I’ll settle for a glass of wine and a good book. We bought a new variety of wine last week, one with a fancy label. It’s always good to read the little blurb on the back, as sometimes it can be quite informative. Not this one. The label is black with gold and white print so intricate it’s impossible to ascertain the “terroire”, the “top notes of flavour” or even if the stuff is half-way decent. (Well, that one we could discover on the first taste.)
I am tempted by the travel ads to exotic places. The ads for air travel can read like a novel with the title in fancy letters, bold colours, and winsome pictures, but at the bottom the real reading begins with all the details about booking dates, seat availability, luggage allowances, airport taxes, and rules and regulations and what happens if you miss your flight, and of course how to contact the website. The large print gives you the good part — how you’ll be relaxing in a villa in Spain in no time at all and at such little cost as to be practically FREE. The fine print makes it sound like you’d better be travelling with a suitcase of cash to cover the peripherals.
I know it’s completely out of fashion, but I rely on the phone book, especially what is commonly referred to as the Large Print one we get for our own area. (Please, I implore you: don’t give up your landline, or I’ll never be able to find you!) It’s got a handy little map in the front that is really useful because you can see the names of the streets without running for a magnifying glass. Here’s what we do to use the big map. We unfold it all over the counter, get out the BIG magnifying glass, perch our glasses higher up our noses, hunt for the location in the tiny printed list, and then get out the BIGGER plastic magnifying plate to actually find it on the map. Is it any wonder we resort to Google the Explorer to see where we’re going? I love a big map, but the tiny print defeats me.
Oops, I see the sign up ahead. It’s a colourful little sign about Canada 2017, with blah, blah about sponsor or something. And right below is a BIG sign for the Turner/Wilson wedding. What do you say we head on over there, Nellie? At least we could read the sign!
For the fifth consecutive year, Carleton Place will be showcasing its popular Christmas House Tour and, as usual, all of the proceeds will be going to the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital Foundation to help with the purchase of much-needed patient care equipment. Over the past four years they have raised in excess of $36,000, and are poised to have their best year yet. This year’s tour takes place on Saturday, December 3 from 4:30 to 9:30pm, and on Sunday the 4th from 10am to 4pm.
The catchment area for ticket sales runs from Cumberland to Kingston, and the tour has almost taken on a life of its own. Since it began, organizers have referred to their beloved tour as “A Christmas House Tour like no other,” and once you visit these wonderful homes and experience them for yourself firsthand, you’ll see why. It’s the only tour in the region hosting both a Saturday evening and a Sunday day tour. It’s the only tour where visitors receive a ballot to fill out for a chance to win one of several great prizes and where each home visited offers hot apple cider and homemade goodies to savour. Most importantly, all of the homes on the tour are tastefully decorated throughout, presenting visitors with tips and ideas for their own holiday decorating style.
All homeowners will be present, engaging and happy to show you around their special homes. You’ll find inspiration for garlands, Christmas villages, mantels, stair railings and dining tables, as well as ideas for how to sneak in some special décor in unexpected places. So mark your calendars and come and celebrate the magic of the holiday season in Carleton Place! Those of you who agree that there’s nothing quite like the twinkling of lights on a crisp winter’s eve to put you into the holiday spirit are invited to visit on the Saturday evening tour. For those of you who wish to travel in the daylight, come and enjoy lunch in one of the town’s many wonderful restaurants on Sunday. This is a self-guided tour and you may start or finish where you like. Tickets are available for only $25 each (cash or cheque only please) at the Carleton Place Nursery, the Beckwith Kitchen and the Hospital Gift Shoppe in Carleton Place, Crush Marketplace in Almonte, Gemmell’s Flowers in Smiths Falls, Pretty Pots Flower Shop in Stittsville, Yarn Forward in Kanata, and Tinseltown Emporium or Flowers Talk Tivoli in Ottawa. For more details, contact Jane at 257–9717 or <susanjanetunks@gmail.com>.
Who can resist a guaranteed formula for enjoyment? Consider the following equation: eleven of the finest actors in Eastern Ontario (well, certainly in Lanark County!) + two highly regarded artistic directors + multiple talented designers and technicians + one charming theatre venue, divided by two quirky, humorous, thought-provoking short plays = An Evening of One-Act Plays at Perth’s Studio Theatre! How can you miss?
The Real Inspector Hound, by award-winning playwright Tom Stoppard, initially appears to be a corny country-house mystery, a cliché-ridden whodunit, parodying its own genre. However, the separate existence of two pompous theatre critics, Moon and Birdboot — more concerned with their own issues than the play — provokes the audience to realize they are watching a play-within-a-play in which the critics’ cliché-ridden commentary parodies its genre! Throughout the course of the play, the two narratives become entangled as characters seamlessly switch roles. Soon the two stories are nearly impossible to separate.
Veteran director David Parry makes no attempt to conceal his glee with the cast he secured for “Hound”. “It’s a director’s dream cast,” says Parry. David Bird and Jamie Schoular pair up as theatre critics Moon and Birdboot, whose running, but often absurdly unrelated, conversation intersperses with the murder mystery they are reviewing. An OPP officer “by day”, Perth theatre scene stalwart Bird says he loves working with such a strong cast and looks forward to lifting the spirits of the audience with laughter. Asked about acting and policing, Bird is philosophical: “You play a role in both.”
Hound gets more and more interesting as the critics’ characters reveal themselves and then are propelled, one by one, into the action of the play they are attending. Like a living domino effect, most of the characters eventually fall into new roles in this clever and hilarious satiric parody. The aptly-named Mrs. Drudge, played by the versatile Jenny Pfitzer, brings humour as a stage-direction-calling Cockney maid who, at times, both acts and directs. Rounding out the cast with strong individual acting and comedic skills are Chris Angel, Kristy Tait Angel, Robert DelGrande, Grey Masson and Krista Duff.
In Coffee House, by Leon Kaye, Amy and Dag meet at a coffee house. They joke, flirt and seem perfectly suited for one another. Then, time stops and everyone is frozen — all except Dag and an odd man, Hugh, who has arrived claiming he’s been sent to save Dag from making a terrible, life-altering mistake. Hugh informs Dag that he has a perfect soulmate with whom he has spent many fulfilling lifetimes, only it isn’t Amy. Surprises and reversals abound in this mind-bending fantasy about coffee and the rest of one’s life.
Lucas Tennant, Director of Coffee House, is also delighted with his cast, a trio of fine actors who are no strangers to the Studio Theatre stage. Julie Heney plays Amy, the initially reluctant object of Dag’s (Hugh McCulloch) attentions as she sits idly at the coffee bar. Gradually Amy’s icy resolve succumbs to Dag’s charms and, just when it looks like he might win her over, in comes Hugh, played by Charles Henderson. This is when the play becomes surreal as Hugh suspends time for everyone in the coffee house except Dag and himself, revealing information to Dag that he hopes will alter the immediate course of events for reasons that may — or may not — become apparent. The audience must come to its own conclusions; a characteristic of the play that Tennant especially enjoys. “Keep them guessing, and wondering and thinking about it,” he says. “Just who the protagonist is isn’t entirely clear. And is there a ‘bad guy’? Come see for yourself!”
Packed into a mere thirty minutes, a perfectly ordinary scenario unexpectedly transforms into a bizarre, humorous and thought-provoking tale that also defies predictability. Tennant acknowledges that he is drawn to plays that broach “questions about destiny and choice.”
An Evening of One-Act Plays premières at the Studio Theatre on Thursday, November 3, with performances on November 3, 4 and 5 at 7:30pm, and a 2pm matinée on the 6th. Tickets are $22 at the Book Nook (60 Gore St. E, cash only), and $22 plus convenience fee at Shadowfax (67 Foster St., 267–6817, shadowfax.on.ca) and Tickets Please (in the Matheson House Museum Visitor Centre, 11 Gore St. E., 485–6434, ticketsplease.ca), both of which accept in-store, phone, online and credit card purchases. Tickets are $24 at the door, and $10 at the door for students with ID. Attend opening night and save $5!
The weekend following An Evening of One-Act Plays, The Real Inspector Hound and Coffee House will be the Studio Theatre’s entries in the annual Eastern Ontario Drama League’s One-Act Play Festival, which the Studio Theatre will proudly host the weekend of November 11 to 13. This prestigious festival brings together eight community theatre groups from across Eastern Ontario to perform their best one-acts, plays between 25 minutes and one hour in length. Performances will be judged by a professional adjudicator, who will announce awards for acting, direction, costume design and more at the Awards Brunch on Sunday, November 13. Don’t miss your chance to see great community theatre in action! Tickets for the EODL One-Act Play Festival are available now; you can see each set of three plays for $20, or immerse yourself in the Festival by seeing all nine plays plus attending the Awards Brunch for just $90 (Brunch alone is $30). Visit <studiotheatreperth.com> for details or call 326–0437.
Some years, we get lucky. (And the harder we work, the luckier we get). I can’t wait to tell you how lucky we are this year. We have a superb lineup, including soulful vocals, local troublemakers, one of Canada’s best troubadours, and by coincidence, the guy who produced his last album. It’s also a season that completes a few circles. Here’s what Almonte’s Folkus Concert Series has got going on this year:
Garnet Rogers
A seasoned troubadour, Garnet will be touching down with us on January 21, 2017. Fourteen albums into his career, he still takes time to care about the little guy (he’s asked us to arrange donations for the local food bank, so don’t forget to bring something!). Celebrated both for his nimble guitar work (he brings a small van full of them) and his warm baritone, Garnet Rogers is also a raconteur and a wit.
He will also be touring with his new book, Night Drive Home, published in 2016, which deals with his early days of touring with his brother (the late and much-lamented Stan Rogers). His book, clocking in at 735 pages, is full of stories about “every stupid, inexplicable and bizarre thing that could happen to a pair of young idiots who were naive enough to think they could play folk music for a living back in the mid-70s and early ‘80s.”
Coco Love Alcorn
A bluesy, big-voiced singer, Coco is at ease with both choral groups and vocal loops. She sings protest songs, love songs, songs about bicycles. With a sultry voice that shades between Sade and Nina Simone, Alcorn will deliver an evening of warm and upbeat song on February 25. Opening for Coco will be Chris MacLean, a charming Wakefield singer-songwriter.
The Ragged Flowers
Almonte’s own crazy flower children, in their latest incarnation, will join us fresh off recording their latest album. Members of the Ragged Flowers were instrumental in founding Folkus (they even provided the kitchen table for meetings), and we are pleased and proud to be able to present them as a highlight of the series. In spite of the heavy demands in their rider (colour-sorted Smarties, cases of bananas), the executives at Rocket Chimp Records have graciously allowed them out for the night. March 25 should be a hoot. And it closes the circle of support in a satisfying fashion.
Opening for the Ragged Flowers will be Almonte expat Claire Hunter, who is working on her music career in Toronto these days. She has released her first EP and is playing regularly in Southern Ontario. It will be interesting to see the polish she’s picked up from her big-city gigs.
Scott Merritt
Our final show of the season, April 22, closes another circle. Scott Merritt actually produced a number of Garnet Rogers’ albums, including the most recent. He has recently started touring with his own material again, and we are thrilled that he is able to join us. Merritt’s own compositions are thoughtful and delicate, his guitar work is nimble without being egotistical, and his lyrics are well served by his slightly husky voice. Opening for Merritt is Shawville native Ursula Schultz, who brings her own spin on traditional fiddle tunes and a few original compositions. Schultz has grown up playing at fairs and fiddling competitions around the Valley, but is also active in the indie band Bitterly Healed.
Folkus season’s passes are still a great deal, at $90 for all four shows. Passes will be available online (visit folkusalmonte.com and follow the link to EventBrite) and at Mill Street Books beginning on November 19. Once again, the fabulous folks at Almonte Print Shop will be creating a beautiful package suitable for gift-giving. They are easy to wrap, and fit in a stocking or under a tree. Individual tickets will go on sale the second week of January, and can also be purchased from Mill Street Books (256–9090) or online.
This fall, I finally found the time to watch Oliver Stone’s latest, Snowden, about the trials and tribulations of Edward Snowden. Snowden is the man who leaked NSA security information, providing us with the knowledge that basically everyone’s (and I mean everyone’s, as in the entire world’s) human rights are being violated and that our freedom and independence is essentially non-existent. Similar to the way in which Stone dissected previous political debacles on film (JFK, Nixon, W.), Snowden both informs and alarms.
Even though the film is certainly filled with tons of shocking information and revelations, cohesive storylines have never been Stone’s forte. He’s always had a heavy hand in making his point clear, often sounding more pedantic than he probably means to.
But here in Snowden, the film really comes alive when Stone focuses the story on Snowden and the reporters (Zachary Quinto, Melissa Leo and Tom Wilkinson in fine supporting roles) in their hotel room, figuring out how they got to that point and what to do with the information. The result is informative and eye-opening and a great companion piece to Citizenfour (the fantastic 2014 Oscar-winning documentary by Laura Poitras) clarifying a few things that may have been a bit hard to comprehend the first time around.
This is a very important part in our history and it deserves to be seen and syndicated. Catch it this month at the Bytowne Cinema on November 9 and 10.
I also saw Elle — a non-judgmental, dark, French fantasy film about unconventional desires that débuted at the Cannes Film Festival this May to rave reviews. Directed by one-time Hollywood big shot Paul Verhoeven (Robocop, Total Recall) with a still-firm grasp of his style and a truly sophisticated and surprisingly philosophical script from David Birke, the film seems unlike anything I’ve seen before.
Verhoeven’s first film in a decade (since 2006’s Black Book), seems at first glance like he is finally back in the saddle, giving us another edgy erotic thriller along the lines of his biggest hit, 1992’s Basic Instinct. But when you actually see Elle, you may feel shortchanged. A thrilling erotic revenge fantasy it is not. But that purposeful disillusionment of the audience is one of the factors that make this film so fascinating. The other factor is Isabelle Huppert, one of the best actors working today.
Huppert gives us yet another provocative, powerful and challenging performance. She has already provided us with so many astonishing performances over the years (especially in Claude Chabrol’s Story of Women and Michael Haneke’s The Piano Teacher), and her role as Elle is another one for the books. Indeed, Elle is one of the most interesting characters I have encountered in a long time.
After being brutalized by an assailant, Elle is unable to emotionally or physically explain her feelings about the matter; yet it still seems to affect every part of her being, making her feel slightly disconnected. Even we are unsure of situation: how does she feel about the attack? The lines are obscured from the get-go, masterfully shifting us around the matter.
Without explaining any more, I will say that Elle is a very good film, filled with painful suspense and visceral reactions. This kind of film, and these kinds of roles, can only really be made in Europe. Few actors or directors would tackle such an undertaking — scoping out the darkest reaches of our minds — let alone accomplish it in such a remarkable fashion. Elle is a must-see, but not for the faint of heart. You can catch it at the Bytowne Cinema in Ottawa from November 25–30.
Playing Locally
Some other excellent films are coming to local theatres this month. Playing on November 23 at Perth’s Full Circle Theatre and on the 24th at Smiths Falls’ Station Theatre is Whit Stillman’s entertaining Love & Friendship. I wrote and raved about this film a few months ago — the full review can be read at <thehumm.com>. I mentioned that: “Love & Friendship is an adaptation of Jane Austen’s posthumously published novella Lady Susan, and it’s an absolute delight… filled with gorgeous costumes, snappy dialogue and a convivial atmosphere. The film seems plucked right out of the 19th century, as if Austen herself was supervising the production. It is crafted with care, and the joy of the wordplay, through the script to the actor’s mouths, is clearly evident. With the aid of an extremely talented cast and crew (with a special nod to composer Benjamin Esdraffo, who does incredible things with the score), Love & Friendship is an above-par period piece. Where some films of this genre feel arid and stiff, Love & Friendship feels alive. Watching Lady Susan scheme or Lady Manwaring run around in perpetual hysteria, or listening to the bumbling Sir Martin (a hilarious, scene-stealing Tom Bennett) trying so hard not to make an awkward fool of himself is some of the most fun I have had at the theatre all year.” Go see it. You won’t be disappointed.
Also playing in Perth on November 9 and Smiths Falls on the 10th is Theeb, a Jordanian film that was nominated for Best Foreign Film at last year’s Academy Awards (Jordan’s first-ever nomination).
Theeb is a sort of coming-of-age story about a young Bedouin boy (a wondrous, and surprisingly learned, performance from newcomer Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat) who leads a soldier through the Wadi Rum desert of Jordan (the same desert where they filmed The Martian). The cinematography by Wolfgang Thaler is truly breathtaking and is the real standout of the film. Especially for a début feature, Theeb is quite exceptional. It’s written and directed by Naji Abu Nowar — a filmmaker to keep an eye on in the future — who won Best Director at the Venice Film Festival last year for the film. Filled with drama and tension as if it was made by a seasoned veteran, the film brings you into this world and this situation. They don’t just show you the journey; they take you along with them. Theeb is yet another film that deserves to be seen. Not simply for its artistic value, but for what it represents: the overcoming of odds, both literally and figuratively.
And with the cold weather swiftly surrounding us, we have the perfect opportunity to head out and catch a few flicks. These are but a few suggestions, but are all well worth your while.
Almonte in Concert’s Youthful Music Club has recently evolved from a children’s-only performance club to a concert club for musicians of all ages who enjoy sharing their talents in a friendly atmosphere.
For many years, the Music Club has offered a wonderful opportunity to young music students in the area: the chance to perform on the stage of the Almonte Old Town Hall. For many pianists, it has been a rare experience to play an instrument of the calibre of the nine-foot Steinway Concert Grand owned by Almonte in Concert.
Students have enjoyed the relaxed, supportive nature of the club, the fun of hearing other instrumentalists, and also the interaction (and snacks) after the concerts, which often led to improv sessions at the piano.
But looking to the future, and still wishing to preserve the essential character of the club, the Music Club Committee decided to widen the scope of participation to include parents of current members who may wish to perform as individuals, or in duet or ensemble with their children. Musicians seeking performance opportunities prior to auditions, other performances, exams etc. are also welcome. The intention is to increase access to performing in this wonderful hall, and to share the pleasure, energy and joy generated by making music together.
The Youthful Music Club does have a modest membership fee, but participants are encouraged to attend for their first concert to see what it’s all about and enjoy a complimentary performance experience. Concerts take place on Sundays at 1pm on December 4, February 26, March 26, and April 20. For more information please email <musicclub@almonteinconcert.com>.
It is a common sight to see a group of teenagers huddled together at a coffee shop with their eyes fastened on their smartphones. As a librarian, I often wonder what is capturing their attention. I also ask myself, “Are they still reading books?”
I think it is very likely that teenagers today, attached to screens of one kind or another, are reading more words than youth in the past. They are reading text messages, Facebook posts, brief articles and pieces of information from multiple sources… but are they still reading books or e-books?
Research has shown that teenagers are spending a significant amount of time on devices. A survey done in 2015 in the United States by Common Sense Media found that, when it comes to time spent on screens (including laptops, smartphones and tablets), teens spend on average more than six and a half hours per day, and tweens more than four and a half hours. I think it is safe to say that Canadian teens spend a similar amount of time on their devices. It makes sense that teens are reading fewer books since there is only so much time in a day, but from my experience there is still a significant number of teens reading books for pleasure. They are different from youth in the past in that they are more likely to decide what they want to read based on recommendations from friends (frequently from online friends), and from blogs and online reviews rather than from teachers and librarians. They also have the opportunity to discuss what they have read in online discussion groups and get notification when their favourite author has a new book released.
Libraries offer many services for teens. They offer digital resources such as e-books, e-audiobooks, and digital magazines, as well as research databases. Teenagers are very social and libraries plan programming specifically for this group. There are book clubs, craft programs and special nights targeted at teens. Sometimes they just come to the library to study or hang out with their friends. Whatever the reason, public libraries are great places for teens to visit.
Suggested Books for the Teens on Your Christmas List :
The Pact by Amanda West Lewis, Red Deer Press, 2016.
The Fever Code by James Dashner (Maze Runner – Book Five), Delacorte, 2016.
Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy, HarperCollins, 2015
Empire of Storms by Sarah Maas (Throne of Glass #5), Bloomsbury, 2016
Finders Keepers Returns To CP
The Finders Keepers Craft Show, Carleton Place’s one-of-a-kind-find trunk show, is coming back to the Canoe Club for its fourth annual show on November 12.
Over thirty local makers will be showcasing their high-quality handmade goods, so be sure to mark the date and check off a few items from your Christmas shopping list. There is sure to be something there for everyone.
In addition to 30+ trunks of one-of-a-kind finds, there will also be readings and a book signing by popular local author Natasha Peterson, as well as a reading nook for kids to hang out in while their parents shop, and the popular craft corner for all ages.
Ginger Café will be making a return appearance this year at the market café — once again providing delicious refreshments and lunch that are mere samplings of what can be found at their popular Carleton Place location.
The show will be held on Saturday, November 12 from 10am to 3pm at the historic Carleton Place Canoe Club, located at 179 John Street. Swag bags will be given to the first fifty people in line. Admission is $2, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Ottawa Therapy Dogs’ R.E.A.D. Program, which travels to local schools to help children deal with reading challenges. They are also accepting donations of gently used children’s and teen’s books to be enjoyed at the reading corner the day of the craft show, which will then be donated to a local organization yet to be confirmed. If you would like to donate books in advance of the show date, please contact Monika or Jody at <hello@finderskeeperscraftshow.com> or find them on Facebook at <finderskeeperscraftshowcp>.
Have a Holly Jolly Art Sale
The Rideau Lakes Artists Association (RLAA) is very excited to be presenting the Holly Jolly Art Sale on the weekend of November 19 and 20. The RLAA has traditionally had a pre-Christmas show and sale of inexpensive items that would be suitable for Christmas gifts. In the very early days, beginning more than twenty years ago, the show was held at the association meeting rooms in Westport, and featured small paintings and cards produced by the artists. In recent years, the show has been held at different locations, most recently as the “$100 and Under Show” at the Lombardy Fairgrounds, and has included other handmade items produced by RLAA artists.
This year, the RLAA is enthusiastic about moving its Christmas show and sale to a new location, this time in Perth. The Holly Jolly Art Sale will be held in the student common room of Algonquin College on the third weekend in November. Although the RLAA is based in and around Westport, many of its artists come from the Perth area, and the association has been looking for a Perth location for one of its annual shows ever since it lost the use of the property that housed the summer “Art on the Lawn” show for many years. “We have been looking for some time for a Perth location for one of our art shows, and we are very excited that Algonquin College has allowed us the use of this beautiful room,” said Caroline Evans, the show’s coordinator.
Once again, the show will feature inexpensive paintings from more than thirty RLAA artists. Many of them also produce other beautiful and interesting things that would make lovely Christmas presents. Cards, jewellery, clothing, fashion accessories, ceramics, sculpture, fridge magnets and many other items will be found at the show. Because of the lovely facility at Algonquin, there will be a very comfortable lounge area where visitors can relax and enjoy some coffee, cider and home-baked Christmas goodies. There will be lots of RLAA artists on site to welcome visitors and answer any questions you might have. Entry to the show is free, but donations to “Build a Mountain of Food” will be accepted. Part of the proceeds from sales will also be donated to this cause. Make the show part of your weekend on November 19 or 20, from 11am to 4pm.
Two Days to Shop for Itty Bitty Art
Holiday shopping with an itty bitty twist! Arts Carleton Place is presenting the second Itty Bitty Teenie Tiny Art Show & Sale on the weekend of November 26 and 27. The event runs from 10am to 4pm each day at a new location: the CP Canoe Club at 179 John Street. Artists have been busy painting small canvases, creating fused glass art, photography, pottery, wood and stone pieces, jewellery, exciting mixed media works, and lots more. All works are original and are all priced to sell for under $100 each. For that perfect one-of-a-kind gift, drop by and support our local arts community. The Ginger Café will be offering yummy eats, sweet treats and a coffee bar. Get into the holiday spirit with the arts! For more details, visit <artscarletonplace.com>.
MERA’s Annual Christmas Fair
The 12th annual MERA Christmas Fair is the perfect place to shop locally, support area artists and artisans, and help promote community arts at MERA (McDonalds Corners/Elphin Recreation and Arts) in Lanark Highlands.
This very popular juried show features original one-of-a-kind creations that you won’t find anywhere else. You’ll find hand weaving by the MERA Heritage Weavers and Heather Sherratt, pottery, fibre arts, woodcraft items, organic chocolate by Ludwig, Strawberry Cottage beeswax candles and natural soaps, jewellery, felted creations, hand-painted Christmas cards by MERA’s Arts Circle, jams and jellies, as well as a gift bag raffle, bake table, café and much more!
Don’t miss MERA’s Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 26 from 10am to 4pm.
For details about vendors or directions to MERA, please visit <meraschoolhouse.org>.
Red Trillium Studio Tour
This fall marks the 35th Red Trillium Studio Tour, taking place on November 26 and 27. Thirty artists will be participating at nine studios, including many old favourites and several new faces. Admission is free, and brochures and information are available at <redtrilliumst.com> or by calling Catharine at 839–2793. The studios are open from 10am to 5pm each day, and are located in the beautiful rural setting of West Carleton.
Artists new to this year’s tour (or returning after an absence) include Wendy Alguire (quilted and machine-embroidered pillows), Barbora Balaban (functional and decorative pottery inspired by nature), Jill Carty (encaustic art on heritage Ottawa Valley barn board), and landscape painter Doug Sample. Also visit the Good Day Workshop at Studio 3, where Doug Ginn teaches woodworking skills to individuals with disabilities.
Many other area artists, working in a wide variety of media, look forward to welcoming you over the weekend. At Studio 9, the St. Mary’s Church Ladies will serve lunch as well as tea and coffee.
Get an early start on your holiday shopping, and find distinctive, handmade local gifts for everyone on your list!
“As the late-in-life daughter of two committed, Group of Seven-trained artists, I grew up surrounded by ever-changing paintings and a strong sense of the need to communicate my vision to others. Our home was in the centre of a woods. To me, the oaks, beeches and pines were an essential part of my family. This is how I came to see kinship with nature as at the heart of my writing work,” author Peri McQuay tells me.
For thirty years, McQuay and her husband Barry had the exceptional experience of living and working at the Foley Mountain Conservation Area. During this time, while Barry was the first Supervisor of the 800-acre park overlooking Westport, he was instrumental in developing programs that invited visitors to experience nature first-hand. Most significant were the programs he designed for children of all ages.
The McQuays were able to see the strong bond these experiences created between children and nature. It is a joy to Peri that her sons Morgan and Jeremy are now passing on lessons they learned in their early years to their own families and students. Over the years, she and Barry also saw many of the other children who experienced those programs return to the park to share with their families what they had learned. As well, many of the university student teachers who assisted Barry honed a commitment to continuing environmental work and went on to jobs as teachers, lawyers and biological researchers.
Peri also was eager to share what she discovered as she experienced the granite ridges, ponds and immense pine trees at Foley Mountain, so she began the writing that eventually led to her books The View from Foley Mountain and A Wing in the Door. To invite readers to explore nature as home has been her life’s passion. She has most successfully conveyed this to all those who have visited Foley Mountain and read her delightful books.
This idyllic life was difficult to leave, but as Barry approached retirement age, when he would have to vacate the supervisor’s home at the park, the McQuays began to search for just the right place for their new home. One magical day, after overcoming many challenges, they fell in love with twenty-one beautiful acres and went through the challenging process of envisioning and building their new home. I highly recommend reading Peri’s latest book Singing Meadow to follow this remarkable writer’s journey.
“Yes, you can follow your dream and you can find a house that will make you happy,” she assures me. In Singing Meadow you will discover the “joy of a new home that fits closely with nature to nurture you through your life.” Find Peri’s amazing journey to a new concept of home at Far Visions in Westport, as well as Mill Street Books in Almonte, The Book Nook in Perth, and Mirick’s Landing Country Store in Merrickville.
For more about Peri and her amazing life, visit <perimcquay.org>.
Since the book launch for At Home in Tay Valley last September, Tay Valley Township residents have been telling the Township’s Reeve, Keith Kerr, that they hadn’t realized history could be so interesting.
“Praise couldn’t come any higher,” commented Kay Rogers, co-author and editor of At Home in Tay Valley. “Clearly, the book brings our story to life.”
Not only is it receiving praise from local readers, it was also nominated for the Ontario Historical Society’s Fred Landon Award for Local History.
“At Home in Tay Valley offers a remarkable panorama of life in Tay Valley, from the Algonquin to pioneer days to the present, often in first-person family histories and descriptions of the trials and joys of everyday life,” wrote John Fowler, President of the Perth and District Historical Society. “People are commenting on how much they’ve learned, how much they’ve enjoyed the book, on aspects of our history they’ve never thought about before, and especially the role of geology — the Omamìwìnini — or the reasons our ancestors decided to leave their homelands.”
“I’m delighted,” said Kay Rogers. “It is a great honour to have At Home in Tay Valley nominated for this prestigious award. Kudos to all who contributed to this book bee. The honour is all yours.”
Proceeds from the sale of the book, along with the 200th Anniversary Calendar of the Perth Military Settlement and personal donations, will be directed to an annual history bursary for a student graduating from either the Perth and District Collegiate Institute or St. John Catholic High School, who has demonstrated a keen interest in history and who has been accepted into an apprenticeship, college or university program. The first bursary will be awarded in June 2017 during Canada’s 150th anniversary.
At Home in Tay Valley is a true keepsake. You can purchase your copy of this legacy book at the Tay Valley Township Office, the Perth Museum, the Village Green, and shops in Perth and Balderson, for $30. Donations to the history bursary are welcome, by contacting Tay Valley Township at 267–5353. Tax receipts will be issued for donations $20 or more.
Sleigh bells are in the air in the latest book by local historian Claudia Smith. By Word of Mouth — Snowdrifts and Sleigh Bells captures the challenges of long ago winters in rural Lanark County and invites you to partake in the seasonal celebrations.
You will hear the crunch of snow as people go to poultry fairs, rural school concerts, shooting matches and millponds to skate. You will stand beside a horse-drawn snowplough as the teams are given a break from the heavy work and the men stamp their feet to keep warm. You will feel the bite of the wind as the rural mail sleigh bucks the drifts. And you will join the throngs of people travelling on the K&P Railway, heading home for Christmas.
School and community concerts were popular events for young and old. Billed as a “Grand Balloon Descension with Captain Santa Claus,” this 1885 extravaganza at the Almonte Town Hall featured the “descent of Santa Claus in a mammoth and beautiful balloon that was literally covered with a great variety of handsome presents.”
Skating parties were another popular winter pastime enjoyed from the “glaciarium” in Pakenham, to the flooded basement of a school, to ponds everywhere — whether on “cheese-cutters” or new, fancy skates.
By Word of Mouth — Sleigh Bells and Snowdrifts is illustrated with vintage photographs and drawings as well as a number of old postcards in full colour that are guaranteed to delight the reader. Of particular note in these postcards are the many guises of the snowman, from a World War II soldier to a snow-couple sitting romantically close on a log at a pond skating party.
This charming book is a collection of winter and Christmas articles written by Claudia, over the last 26 years, for the Lanark Era. It follows last year’s acclaimed and popular book about Lanark County barns called Barns: A Reflection of Changing Times.
The book launch will take place on Sunday, November 13 from 2 to 4pm. Come by the Middleville Community Centre to meet the author and enjoy some refreshments. There will also be book signings at the Book Nook in Perth on Saturday, November 26 from 1 to 3pm, and at Mill Street Books in Almonte on Sunday, December 11 from 1 to 3pm. All proceeds will go to the ongoing work of the Middleville Museum.
Claudia’s new book is like a favourite box of chocolates — just open it at any place and you’ll be tempted to read another and another.
Following their highly successful appearance at this year’s Stewart Park Festival, Newfoundland’s Ennis Sisters are set to bring their traditional musical stylings back to Perth just in time for the holiday season.
The Ennis Sisters were born and raised on Irish Newfoundland tunes. While their father is a button accordion player, their mother grew up on the southern shore of the Avalon, surrounded by music.
Throughout the sisters’ childhood, if their parents weren’t making music, it was coming through the radio — particularly the Irish radio shows that aired on Saturday and Sunday mornings. There was no escaping the traditional music all around them.
“When we first began singing for an audience, these were the songs we sang. It’s what came easiest and most naturally, and it still does,” says Karen Ennis.
Some say it’s in their bones to sing, that their voices reflect the very strength of the Atlantic itself. “That’s all we knew growing up,” echoes Maureen Ennis. “Newfoundland is a unique province, and because of this we have a different perspective of our surroundings.”
With many accolades — a Juno Award, SOCAN Award and multiple East Coast Music Awards — the Ennis Sisters, comprised of Maureen, Teresa and Karen, are world-renowned singers, as well as gifted musicians. Maureen, the oldest, is a guitarist and songwriter. Middle-born Karen plays both the tin whistle and flute and does step dancing, while the youngest of the trio, Teresa, also step dances, as well as playing the bodhran.
This past summer the sisters wowed the crowds at Perth’s Stewart Park Festival with their beautiful harmonies and powerful voices. Now they are set to return to Perth with their East Coast Christmas Show, on a tour that will take them across Canada before returning to their home province.
The Christmas tour has become an annual event for the Ennis Sisters ever since their sophomore album Christmas on Ennis Road landed them their own Christmas special on CBC television.
A subsequent album, It’s Christmas, earned them Celtic/Traditional Music group of the Year at the Music Newfoundland Awards. Their song I’ll Be There Christmas Eve continues to receive widespread airplay throughout the season.
This show consists of the sisters singing songs from their two Christmas albums, along with traditional holiday songs interspersed with stories of Christmas past and present, all served with healthy doses of humour and traditional Irish dancing. There will be no finer way to kick off this year’s season!
As in previous years, a portion of the revenue raised at each performance during their tour will be donated back to the community. In Perth, some proceeds from the show will go towards the Stewart Park Festival, the much-loved free festival held each July.
“It’s a great feeling knowing we’re helping to make a difference to communities across the province, especially this time of year,” explains Karen Ennis. “It’s always amazing to see people come together in the true spirit of Christmas.”
The family-friendly East Coast Christmas Show will take place in Perth at 7:30pm on November 24 in St. Paul’s United Church where the superb acoustics will, no doubt, be sure to welcome the sisters’ soaring harmonies.
Tickets are $25 plus taxes and ticket fee, and are available at <ticketsplease.ca>, the Visitor Centre in the Perth Museum, or by phoning 485–6434. Children under twelve are free.
You won’t want to miss this wonderful way to greet the holiday season!
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On Sunday, November 27, join Heritage House Museum in welcoming back Parks Canada’s Senior Underwater Archaeologist, Jonathan Moore, for his talk entitled “Lost Beneath the Ice: The Search and Discovery of Franklin’s Lost Ships”. Jonathan was a member of the Parks Canada Underwater Archaeology Team that discovered Franklin’s lost ship, the HMS Erebus. He will share the inside stories on the exciting discoveries of Franklin’s ships and finding these lost pieces of Canadian history. Last year Jonathan presented to a sold-out crowd in Smiths Falls.
In 1845, explorer Sir John Franklin set sail from England with two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, in search of a Northwest Passage across what is now Canada’s Arctic. For over 150 years, groups have been sent to the Canadian Arctic in an attempt to learn the fate of the Franklin expedition. In 2014, there was a breakthrough when an expedition led by Parks Canada found the long-lost wreck of HMS Erebus. On September 12 (2016) the wreck of the HMS Terror was discovered 50km away from the wreck of the HMS Erebus. The extraordinary efforts leading to this discovery have brought together government and public, private and non-profit organizations, from 2008 to the present. The use of both state-of-the-art technology and 19th century Inuit oral testimony made this historic find possible.
This is an amazing archaeological find that hopes to bring to light many unanswered questions from this important part of Canada’s history. With the latest discovery of HMS Terror there is much to be discussed. Mr. Moore will shed even more light on these important historic events and provide opportunities to ask him questions about the discovery.
In preparing for this event, Heritage House Museum is excited to announce that Evert Bron’s antiquarian book collection will be displayed at the museum. The Bron Collection contains various first edition books that recount the tales of early expeditions to the Arctic and Sir John Franklin and his lost ships. Stop by and take a look!
The museum’s annual fundraising presentation will take place at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 95, at 7 Main Street East in downtown Smiths Falls. There will be a 50/50 draw, Franklin books for sale and more, all in support of the Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum! Doors open at 1pm and presentation begins at 2pm. Tickets are going quickly at only $20 per person and are available at the museum. Hurry and get your tickets before they’re gone!
35th Anniversary Art Show
Heritage House Museum continues to celebrate its 35th anniversary year with its annual Art Show. This un-juried show, which runs from November 5 to December 23, rounds out the year of celebrations. Many art works are available for sale, and the timing is perfect for this gift-giving season!
Typically, artists not only from Smiths Falls but Merrickville, Brockville and further afield participate in the Art Show. Their work represents all media, techniques and levels of ability, from beginners to professionals. It never fails to be a wonderful exhibition of creativity! In the gift shop, there will also be artisanal work available for sale with a retail value of less than $100. Choose from handmade jewellery, wood carvings, cards, drawings and photographs.
Since 1981, over 1,000 local artists have had their work on display at this annual show co-ordinated by staff at Heritage House Museum. As a matter of record, it was the first event offered by the museum to the arts community. In this anniversary year, it will recognize artists who have shown regularly for over 25 years. On December 4 it will also host the Joyce Brennan Award Ceremony, which honours a local citizen who has contributed to the vitality of the local arts community.
In addition to viewing the artwork, visitors can enjoy touring the museum, which will be all dressed for a Victorian Christmas. A special visit by Santa is expected on Sunday, December 4, during the annual Victorian Family Christmas Party (1 to 4pm), when you can enjoy a cup of tea or hot apple cider, with some home-baked seasonal treats, while listening to festive music.
There is a lot to enjoy at Heritage House Museum in Smiths Falls! Drop by and experience 35 years of creative tradition at the Art Show, from November 5 to December 23. The museum is open weekdays 10:30am to 4:30pm and weekends noon to 4:30pm, until December 23, and is located at 11 Old Sly’s Road in Smiths Falls.
The North Lanark Historical Society will be hosting a book launch and presentation by Brian Tackaberry at the North Lanark Regional Museum in Appleton on Sunday, November 13, starting at 2pm. The new book is entitled Forgotten Heroes: Mississippi Mills Valour Award Recipients of the Great War, and it is a follow up to the previous book on local individuals who died in WWI. The book is published by the North Lanark Historical Society with financial support from the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society.
We often hear of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in war, but the lives of those who survived have largely been forgotten as time has passed and their generation has died out. A total of thirty-two individuals from the area make up the “Forgotten Heroes” of Mississippi Mills who received military valour awards for their deeds.
As an example, Major J. M. Bell was in charge of recruiting and commanding a full platoon of area men, but also did secret service work for the British Government in Russia in 1917 and 1918, earning him his awards. Another local man won three valour awards and became a Brigadier General in World War II, where he received additional honours. Two local men were chaplains, serving under fire at the front, as well as working with medical units and in burial duties. Three individuals served in the air, and one man, whose identity has been lost over time, was credited with shooting down twenty German planes, making him a top Canadian Ace. Not to be forgotten were the women who signed up to serve as nurses. Three women with local connections were awarded the Royal Red Cross medal for their brave work. The story of these brave men and women is now told, so they are no longer “Forgotten Heroes”.
For more information, please contact the museum at 257–8503 or <appletonmuseum@hotmail.com>.
Step back in time and prepare to be surprised! In tribute to the 200th anniversary of the Perth Military Settlement, the Perth & District Chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) is placing special emphasis on the heritage aspect of its 2016 Christmas House Tour, taking place the weekend of December 3 and 4, from 10am to 3:30pm. Showcased homes include a delightful combination of historic and traditional styles, in both town and country settings.
Plan a weekend around this special holiday tour, so you and your friends will have time to fully appreciate the eight unique homes, each bedecked for the holiday season by gifted local decorators and florists. For out-of-town visitors, consider making the 2016 House Tour the focus of a destination getaway. Extra events have been planned this year to keep everyone entertained throughout the weekend, including a Settlers Dinner at the Stone Cellar Restaurant as well as an opportunity to tour Algonquin College’s heritage trade shops and see student projects in the areas of heritage techniques and restoration. This is also the weekend of the Town of Perth’s annual Santa Claus Parade, Nick of Time artisan show, festive fireworks and Christmas tree lighting ceremony!
Further details on the homes, special events, decorators, florists and community support for the House Tour are posted on <cfuw-perth-district.com> and on their Facebook page — keep an eye on the action!
Not only is the House Tour great fun, it also provides an opportunity to invest in our community. Proceeds are used to support local women in their pursuit of advanced education, as well as to promote literacy and other educational initiatives in schools and libraries. Since this event began eleven years ago, over $150,000 has been awarded to women in Lanark County.
CFUW is a voluntary, non-profit organization committed to human rights, promoting education and improving the status of women. The Perth & District Chapter was formed in 1970 and currently has over 100 members.
House Tour tickets are $30 each and can be purchased by calling Jane at 267–7817 or visiting Perth Home Furniture, Elizabeth Interiors (Smiths Falls), Windsor’s Courtyard (Merrickville), or Crush Marketplace (Almonte).
The holiday season is just around the corner, and so is the 23rd edition of the Nick of Time Artisan Show! Come visit the artisans on Saturday, December 3 from 10am to 4pm in Perth’s historic McMartin House, located at 125 Gore Street East.
Visit all three floors packed full of the work of Nick of Time’s artisans, doing their very best to tempt and tantalise you with wonderful creations and tasty treats. Enjoy shopping in a festive atmosphere and leave the hustle and bustle of crowded shopping malls behind you as you relax, enjoying all that the show has to offer.
Organizers are delighted to welcome new and returning artisans. Expect to find chocolate, maple syrup, jams and jellies, delicately scented soaps and candles, fine woodworking, wonderful stained glass, delicate crocheted Christmas ornaments, handmade pens, photography, and so much more. The show prides itself on offering a variety of work by artists and artisans, with a simple philosophy: keep the quality high by featuring original juried works from over twenty gifted artisans, all the while keeping the show as local as possible.
Nick of Time is proud to welcome back the Grannies of Lanark County. This year the Grannies will tempt guests with their “Sweet & Savoury” offerings. Come early to get the best selection of shortbread, squares and biscotti, and help support the Grannies!
So mark December 3 on your calendar and take a break from the commercialism of the season by visiting the 23rd edition of Nick of Time. Bask in the relaxed and festive atmosphere of McMartin House. Chat with artisans and neighbours. Shop and know that your shopping is supporting local artisans while buying some of the best work that the area has to offer. Enjoy some hot cider, cookies and the gentle strains of Christmas music filling the cedar-bedecked halls of one of Canada’s most elegant heritage homes. Remember to visit all three floors of wonderful and creative work so you don’t miss a thing!
Be sure to enter the free draw for a basket of fine gift items donated by participating artisans. Donations to The Table, Perth’s Food Bank, would be greatly appreciated. Admission is free, and more information can be found at <sites.google.com/site/nickoftimeinperth>.
You know that feeling when you finally find a puzzle piece that you were looking for and you get to slot it into place? That’s kind of the feeling I had as I tasted my first flight of samples of Crooked Mile Brewing Co.’s offerings recently in their newly opened brewery and tasting room in Almonte. The beers themselves were each very tasty and collectively quite varied. The IPA was floral and hoppy, the Molasses Porter was dark and rich, the Scottish Export was roasty and malty, and the Irish Red was toasty and caramelly. But it wasn’t just that the beers were excellent. The tasting room was packed with happy local beer buffs sampling the ales and chatting. The brewery owners, Nick Pruiksma, his wife Vicki, and their partner in beer Dylan Bouleau, were exhausted from preparing for their grand opening but exhilarated to finally be up and running. All in all, there was a great sense of “rightness” about the whole place.
That strong sense of place is actually what Nick, Vicki and Dylan set out to create when they started planning their business. As craft beer enthusiasts, they had experienced both the strong pub culture of England as well as the burgeoning craft beer scene here in North America. They wanted to create a business that would be embraced by locals and would support the community. As they looked around, they felt that Almonte was the best fit for their vision of a brewery specializing in British-style ales. “The vibe is pretty awesome. It is reminiscent of Vermont’s craft/artisanal scene,” Vicki enthused.
And Almonte appears to be eager to welcome Crooked Mile. Before the brewery was even open, Nick was being recognized around town as “the guy who was opening a brewery”, and was receiving a steady stream of expressions of support and excitement. And judging by the size of the crowd that gathered by noon on the day of their grand opening, it seems that the excitement is growing.
Once the initial rush of opening day adrenaline wears off, Crooked Mile will settle in to become a fixture on the local scene. Over the next few weeks, the local beer-drinking public will stop in, discover their favourite ale(s) and sample new seasonal offerings. The brewery will also play its part in supporting the local economy by acting as (another) tourist draw to the area. Craft beer enthusiasts are known to go far out of their way to add a new beer to their Untappd profile <untappd.com>. Fortunately, Nick, Vicki, and Dylan are all personable, easy conversationalists who are happy to talk beer and brewing with all comers. Crooked Mile’s ales will be available for sale in full-size growlers and smaller “squealers.” Eventually, they hope to add cans to their product mix.
Crooked Mile Brewing Co. is located at 453 Ottawa Street in Almonte, just around the corner from Equator Coffee Roasters. They are open Thursday to Sunday for beer tasting and take-away sales. Find them online at <crookedmile.ca>.
Come on out and dance for a great cause! On Friday, November 18, the Guatemala Stove Project (GSP) is hosting a fundraising dance featuring talented local music scene stalwarts Under the Covers. This band will have you up on your feet and dancing all night to current and past hits!
This annual fundraiser will also feature a silent auction of unique items crafted by area artisans or donated by local businesses.
The Guatemala Stove Project, a volunteer-based organization, is continuing its efforts to raise funds for the construction of masonry cook stoves for impoverished, rural Mayan families. Over 6,000 stoves have been built so far, creating a lasting legacy for rural families in the western highlands of Guatemala. A single stove extends the lives of each family member in a household by ten to fifteen years and reduces the amount of firewood needed by half, which helps to preserve the country’s precious forests.
The GSP also supports sustainable development projects in over a dozen communities, and issues micro-loans to indigenous women to start small businesses that will help lift them out of poverty. The organization recognizes the importance of education in creating opportunity and hope for the future. It provides scholarships to several students who would otherwise not have this opportunity.
You’ve heard about the GSP and maybe you have even made a donation in the past. Now is the time to show your support for the indigenous people in Guatemala. Bring your dancing shoes to the Perth Civitan Club for this fantastic licensed fundraising event. Mark the date on your calendar and get your tickets!
Tickets are $20 ($15 for students) at Shadowfax in Perth or at the door. Civitan Hall doors open at 7pm, and Under the Covers starts playing at 8pm. For more information, please call 267–5202 or visit <guatemalastoveproject.org>.
In partnership with the Almonte General Hospital, Stone Fence Theatre is bringing its new fundraising musical comedy, High Times at the Heart Institute, to the Almonte Old Town Hall auditorium on November 26 at 7pm.
Proceeds from the play go directly to the hospital, so it’s a great time for a great cause! The show is touring the Valley this fall and winter, with the potential to raise at least $25,000 for hospitals and health care. The tour has already been to Eganville, Renfrew, Barry’s Bay, Deep River and Pembroke.
The musical comedy was written by Ish Theilheimer, the company’s producer, and directed by Barry’s Bay resident Chantal Elie-Sernoskie. It celebrates Canada’s health care system and takes a humorous look at the subject of aging baby boomers coming to terms with mortality.
“The show was inspired by my own personal experience as a patient at the Ottawa Heart Institute,” explains Mr. Theilheimer. “I have been so impressed by the care and service I’ve received both at the Institute and at all the local hospitals that are tied in with it.”
Heart Institute founder Dr. Wilbert Keon attended the opening of the show and told The Eganville Leader that: “It was fabulous, fabulous, fabulous! I just thought it was so bang on.”
The show’s plot revolves around four heart patients who find themselves thrust together by their health issues. They include Bobby (John Haslam) and Wendy (Fran Pinkerton), two aging rock and rollers and exes who can’t stand each other; left-wing cynic Arthur (Peter Brown); and Tea Party American Maggie (Lesley Sneddon), whose health insurance company leaves her high and dry. Toni (Shirley Hill), a stressed-out and overworked nurse, tries to cope with all their needs. In the end, Wendy uses a secret from her old hippie days to save the day. Conrad Boyce, Nigel Epps, Cathy Lyons and Elaine Neigel make up the chorus, known as “The Interns.” Derek Tolhurst plays bass, Evan Burgess plays guitar, and Mr. Theilheimer plays percussion in the show.
Tickets are $25.66 plus tax, with proceeds of the show going to support the Almonte General Hospital.
Tickets are available from Stone Fence Theatre’s website <stonefence.ca>, by calling the box office at 628–6600 or from local outlets.
After attending a recent Blues on the Rideau show at The Cove in Westport, I started counting the reasons why this series is so successful (and why you should include it in your pub crawling plans).
Reason 1: The entertainment is world-class. Organizer James Doran, has done an incredible job of bringing outstanding blues performers from across Canada and the U.S. to Westport. Over the past eleven years, James has cultivated relationships with some of North America’s premier purveyors of the blues, and they seem delighted to bring their years of experience performing in venues large and small to the stage at The Cove.
Reason 2: The Cove is such a great venue. Owners, Mary and Terry Cowan along with their manager, Seamus (who is also their son), always seem to be smiling as they work alongside their friendly and professional staff. The buffet dinner at the Blues on the Rideau events is always delicious, varied and plentiful — you should plan on going back for seconds — but save room for dessert.
Reason 3: The dance floor is full all night. Don’t worry about eating too much at the buffet; you will dance off all of those extra calories! One of the things that gets performers to deliver that little bit extra is a good audience, and Blues on the Rideau has one of the best crowds going. The space in front of the band fills up practically as soon as the performers take to the stage and it stays that way until the last chord is played.
60,000 Other Reasons: Every Blues on the Rideau show is a fundraiser for a local charity. Over the past eleven years, over $60,000 has been raised for organizations like Westport in Bloom, The Westport Arts Council, The Westport Food Bank and the Westport Library. That is nothing to be blue about.
The next Blues on the Rideau show features the Karen Lovely Band from Oregon. Karen is a powerful singer in the style of Big Mama Thornton and Bessie Smith who is set to blow the roof off The Cove on November 18. Don’t miss it! Visit <bluesontherideau.ca> for more details on the series.
Brock Zeman’s The Carnival Is Back in Town
Brock Zeman is a shapeshifter. Not in the sense that he shifts musical styles (which he does occasionally) but in the sense that he fully inhabits the many personae that he creates in his songs. The lovers and losers, rascals and rogues who populate the stories that he tells musically are all fully realized and relatable. So it is no surprise that his latest CD, The Carnival is Back In Town, is full of some great characters. But there is something deeper and darker about these folks.
Apparently, Brock saw a carnival barker on TV and was inspired to write the song Come One, Come All which lists all of the weird and wonderful entertainers the carnival has to offer. From there, he began sketching out the other carny performers in songs of their own.
All of these songs were written about ten years ago — and Brock even recorded them all — but he was ultimately unsatisfied with the results and scrapped the whole thing. It wasn’t until he went back into the studio this year with guitarist Blair Hogan and drummer Dylan Roberts that the project got dusted off and given a new, entirely acoustic treatment. The result is a lush and full concept album that is delightlful from start to finish.
Brock will be playing a CD release party for The Carnival Is Back in Town at the Carleton Place Legion on December 3. Find out more at <brockzeman.com>.
The Peptides
Hailing from Ottawa, The PepTides is a nine-member high-energy ensemble who have been described as “the B52s crossed with The Manhatten Transfer backed by Arcade Fire.” In September, they released their new recording, The PepTides EP. As part of their fall tour, they are playing a show at the Almonte Old Town Hall on November 12. When asked why they decided to include Almonte in their tour plans, they replied: “We have such fond memories of the place. Our first Almonte show was when we were musical guests for the 20th anniversary special of The Vinyl Cafe, which we recorded in the Old Town Hall with Stuart McLean back in 2013.” Opening the show will be local favourites, The Ramblin’ Valley Band. And although their musical styles are very different, Scottie Irving of the PepTides asserts: “the positive energy is the same, and both bands use a lot of vocal harmony.”
Visit <thepeptides.com> for more information on the band, videos, and tickets to the upcoming show.
“Sex is a three-letter word even the worst speller in the world can spell.”
Now that we have your attention with this quote from erotic writer Chloe Thurlow, let us hasten to assure you that the word “sex” is unlikely to be offered to any of the children in indie women productions’ The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the hit Broadway comedy by William Finn, Rachel Sheinkin and Rebecca Feldman. This delightful, quirky musical opens at Ottawa’s Gladstone Theatre on November 15 (preview performance) and runs through November 19.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee received near-universal positive reviews Off-Broadway, sold out its entire run, extended, and broke the Second Stage’s box office records. It closed on March 20, 2005, and in less than a month, opened on Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theatre. It was nominated for six Tony awards and won two, including Best Book.
Spelling Bee focuses on six middle school kids — all played by super-energized and uber-talented adult actors channeling their inner adolescent — each of whom reveals his or her hopes, struggles, and passions in hilarious, touching and catchy songs, as they make their way through the Regional Spelling Bee Championship. Three equally eclectic adult characters run the bee and do their best to keep things running smoothly, often to little avail. Rona Lisa Peretti, Putnam County’s top realtor and a former champion herself, is the valiant host, while the odd vice-principal Douglas Panch reads the words and enforces the rules. Mitch Mahoney, the Comfort Counsellor, is at the bee performing community service as a condition of his parole.
The spellers include Chip Tolentino, defending champion and confident all-boy competitor. He may not be called on to spell “sex”, but it is certainly on his mind as he wrestles with alarming pubescent challenges early on in the bee. Sweet and shy Olive brings her best friend (the dictionary) with her to the bee; bold and hyperallergic speller William Barfee uses his “magic foot” to propel him to greatness; easily distracted Leaf is unconvinced that he’s smart enough to be a challenger; overachiever Marcy is disappointed by her consistent success; and politically-aware Schwartzy only wants to impress her gay dads.
The cast is composed of some the best musical theatre talent in the Ottawa area, including Jenn Cecil, Julia Redfern, Erika Jones, Pascal Viens, Andrew Portolesi, Evan Huus, Christine Moran, Paul LeDuc and Dale Waterman (of the popular musical group The PepTides). Creative dynamo Kodi Cannon (Avenue Q and next to normal) is the artistic director and choreographer, while the multi-talented Wendy Berkelaar (next to normal, A Chorus Line) is the musical director.
indie women productions (iwp) is a small independent theatre company, nominated last year for a Best Play award by the Capital Critics Circle for its production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, next to normal. Its mandate includes the production of uncompromisingly provocative theatre with strong roles for women. Every show incorporates fundraising by various means, including a percentage of ticket sales, the proceeds of which go to a worthy charity. iwp raised over $16,000 for The Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health and more than $12,000 for the Jillian O’Connor Family Fund with Studio Theatre Perth. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is raising funds for the Do It For Daron Foundation, which supports youth mental health.
There will be six performances of Spelling Bee at The Gladstone: November 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 at 7:30pm, with a matinée on November 19 at 2:30. The preview performance on the 15th is being offered at a reduced price. Tickets can be purchased at <thegladstone.ca>. Please visit <indiewomenproductions.com> for further information. Don’t miss this hilariously entertaining and poignant award-winning musical comedy! One of the show’s many charms is the inclusion of audience volunteers as spellers in the first act, creating plentiful opportunities for improvisation by the cast. A celebrity guest speller will participate in each performance. And remember, “Be mindful of your spelling. Auto correct is not always write.”
The merchants and restaurants of downtown Carleton Place are extending a special invitation to ladies throughout the area to attend their special Ladies Night Out Open House from 1 to 8pm on Thursday, November 17. There will be many special offers and discounts available, and ways to both enjoy yourself and help others at the same time.
If clothing is your thing, Wisteria, The Dress Shop, Nancy’s Impressions and the Green Counter will all be offering 15% off their regularly priced items, and a purchase at Graham’s Shoes will enter you into an in-store draw for a $50 gift certificate on Ladies Night. The Real Wool Shop on Franktown Road is offering discounts on clothing and yarn, and they will also be collecting gently used bras for ladies in Mexico who have cancer.
There will be lots of great food on offer too — Rhonda’s Kitchen at the Queens is preparing a special dessert, and the Good Food Co. will have delicious appetizers and coffee available for the occasion.
That same night, Brown and MacFarlane Glass Co. will be hosting a Silent Auction and donating 100% of the money raised to CP resident Rachel Roy and her family, to help support them through Rachel’s journey in recovering from cancer. Prizes include two Club Bell tickets to see the Ottawa Senators on November 19 (including dinner, dessert, and free parking).
Shoppers are also invited to enter in-store draws, as well as Downtown Carleton Place’s draw for BIA Bucks, which are accepted at many downtown establishments. For more information about this event, visit <downtowncarletonplace.com> or call 257–8049.
Allow me to present two artists. One is a moose-hunting, beer-brewing, 85-year-old artist from Wakefield who paints large, dramatic landscapes and is my favourite uncle. The other is my favourite middle daughter from Toronto — a singer, poet, musician and actor who provides thrills with her lyrics and voice.
These two are bringing their art to Carriageway Studios in downtown Almonte in November. This will be uncle Jack Martin’s first-ever art show, and his paintings will hang for the month with a vernissage where you can meet the artist on November 4, from 5 to 8pm.
The following is a lovely piece written by Jack’s daughter, Deirdre McKennirey:
“My father’s art studio was always a place of magic and wonder — one we were not supposed to enter. As young girls, we would stand in the doorway and eye the stacks of canvasses, deer racks, rabbit skins, tons of clipped and ragged magazine articles, rocks, cars he’d modelled from Plasticine, the occasional pin-up, military books — anything that caught his fancy. Lots of paints — tubes and brushes in all colours and sizes.
“For me, the power of a painting lies in its transportive qualities. My favourite painting of his hangs in our living room where — without fail — it draws people in. Visitors comment on the painting often — on its serene quality, its beauty and sense of place. Then they continue: they talk of how it makes them feel, where the image takes their thoughts… That is the energy of a good painting. It takes you places.”
Then there is the second Martin.
Selina Martin and her band will perform in the Carriageway Studios on Sunday, November 20, at 4:30pm. She will feature songs from her latest CD — the critically acclaimed and Polaris-nominated caruso’s brain. Selina is a delightful performer — magic on the stage.
Here are a couple of reviews:
“Selina Martin’s new album i’ve been picking caruso’s brain; i think i have the information we need to make a new world is pretty much impossible to categorize. It has obvious elements of prog-rock, pop, and punk, but really all you have to know is that it’s cool as hell and you need to go and listen to it right now. Martin doesn’t sound like anyone else we’re hearing right now, so it’s no wonder she’s been compared to major innovators like Kate Bush and Talking Heads.” (Geyser Music).
“If you want to see a show unlike any other, catch a performance from Selina Martin.” (London Free Press).
More information can be found at <selina- martin.com> and <youtube.com/SelinaMartinMusic>
Tickets for Selina’s concert are $20 and available at Baker Bob’s. This event will be licensed and you can also buy tasty treats from the North Market kitchen of Amanda Sears.
For more information please call me at 624–5104!
The year was 1978. I was nine and half-dressed in goalie equipment. It was early morning, still dark, the roads a glare of ice. Mom braked after turning right at a stop sign and our toad-green Plymouth Duster decided to slide and swerve and deke around a little. Next thing we knew a police car was behind us, flashing its lights. Mom pulled over. The police officer flashed his light in the driver’s side window and asked, “Everything okay, ma’am?” I think he wondered if Mom had been drinking. She was filled with coffee, if anything. She blinked up at the officer, sighed, only slightly exasperated, and through a yawn said two magical words: “Hockey practice.” No ticket was given, and the officer kindly told us to drive safely and have a nice day.
Yes, it’s November, fellow plucky Canadians, and that’s how I’ll always remember it. Now pull down the earflaps on your toque and let’s go — and don’t dilly-dally, it’s a busy month!
Live theatre in Perth is like weather in Perth — it’s always happening. And how fortunate we are that it is. To celebrate the town’s 200th anniversary, David Jacklin has written a wonderful musical called Death & Taxes, and the Perth Community Choir will perform it for its annual fall show. The play — PCC’s 38th anniversary production! — is said to be a toe-tapping, tuneful, funny, whimsical, and perhaps a teeny bit cynical look at small-town politics. Opening night is November 4 at the Mason Theatre at PDCI, with performances running through to the 13th. For ticket information and performance dates and times, please visit <ticketsplease.ca> or call 485–6434.
MERA’s fall concert series continues this month with a Sunday afternoon show by the enchanting Allison Lupton. She will be performing songs from her latest record, Half My Heart, and from her two previous albums. About Half My Heart, one of Perth’s favourite performers, David Francey, had this to say: “A lovely voice and a killer band breathe new life into the trad tunes on the album, and instill a traditional grace in the newer pieces. The songs are imbued with the sheer joy the band had playing them, the voices speaking of sweet wistfulness and sweeter celebration.” Lupton’s November 20 show at the MERA Schoolhouse is not to be missed. Tickets are $24 and available at Tickets Please.
Nearing the end of November, on what is sure to be a holly jolly evening, the Perth & District Community Foundation will host its annual Christmas Gala at the Best Western Parkside Inn & Spa. For many, this is the most splendid event leading up to the holiday season — a posh night of mingling (in formal attire) with friends new and old, of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, music and laughter. New this year is the Glass & Glitter Bar. For an extra $25, you can get the VIP experience, but only 75 tickets are available so you’d best act quickly. There will be a live auction and music by St. Jimmy’s 4. The Christmas Gala takes place on November 25 from 7 to 11pm. Tickets are $110 for this fabulous holiday party and available through Tickets Please. Find out more at <pdcf.ca> or call 326–0295.
On the 26th of November you can get into the spirit with a special shopping event as part of the Festival of Good Cheer. What you do is show up at the Crystal Palace at 9:30am and pick up a VIP Christmas bag filled with promotions, gifts and coupons. Throughout the day, Christmas music will be playing downtown, 10,000 lights will sparkle above, and you can even jump on a horse-drawn wagon to take you to the next independent shop down the street, or to your favourite local restaurant for dinner after you’ve knocked some items off your Christmas list. The merry, magical fun runs until 5pm.
The same day, just a little ways across town at the Old Shoe Factory, the Midnight Makers Collective will be hosting its annual Holiday Makers Market. Here, too, you can make a serious dent in your Christmas list, supporting thirty talented makers from around Lanark County. This special market runs from 10am to 3pm on the second floor of the Old Shoe Factory. Be one of the first thirty shoppers and you’ll get a Midnight Makers swag bag! A $2 donation at the door is suggested.
Not only kids love holiday trains. Everybody knows that. But you can see for yourself on November 27 when the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train makes its annual stop in Perth. This year marks the 18th anniversary of CP’s Holiday Train, which is not only beautiful to see but raises money, food and awareness for local food banks. To date, the CP Holiday Train has helped raise more than $12 million and 3.9 million pounds of food for communities along CP’s routes throughout North America.
Every pound and dollar raised this year in Perth will benefit The Table’s Good Food Bank. The Holiday Train will arrive in Perth at 7:40pm at the railway crossing on the south side of Wilson Street, so get there early. Fans of the Holiday Train are encouraged this year to bring heart-healthy donations. Enjoy the music (rumour has it Dallas Smith will be performing) and the gorgeously decorated train, and be sure to dress warmly, in thick coats and mittens and toques, earflaps and all.
Happy November, everyone!
All right Valley folk and visitors, I’m here to tell you that there’s no reason to hibernate in November. Looking for fun outings to brighten the darkening days? Want to get a jump-start on holiday shopping? Almonte has you covered, and I’m here to tell you all about it.
Things start off with a blast of handmade creativity on November 5 and 6 with the Christmas in the Valley Art Show <valleyartisanshow.blogspot.com>, the Light Up the Night fundraising craft show, the Christmas Pottery Sale and the Cheerfully Made Holiday Market <cheerfullymade.com>. They take place at the Almonte Arena, Curling Club, Almonte Potters Guild and Old Town Hall respectively, with all the downtown shops and eateries sandwiched right in between like the delicious filling in one of Baker Bob’s Nanaimo bars…
On Friday, November 12, everyone is invited to join the good folks from SchoolBOX <schoolbox.ca> as they celebrate their tenth anniversary with a Latin Fiesta. Known for building schools and distributing educational supplies throughout Nicaragua, this charitable organization was started by Almonte resident Tom Affleck and has been supported by the area since its inception. The party starts at 7pm at the Almonte Civitan Hall, and tickets are available from Equator Coffee, Baker Bob’s (home of the aforementioned Nanaimo bars), on their website or at the door.
Then on Thursday, November 17, it’s back downtown you go for a Holiday Street Market! From 5 to 9pm the shops will be alive with the holiday spirit, featuring in-store specials, promos, live music, giveaways, and much more. The Hub will be partnering with the Mississippi Mills Youth Centre that night to offer a gift-wrapping station, with all funds raised going to help the centre with their newly launched programming. The gift-wrapping station will be located in Keepsakes Gifts & Flowers, but be sure to drop in at The Hub too, as they will be offering their $5 Bag Sale promotion, along with a couple extra surprises thrown in for good measure.
Art lovers are invited to drop into Carriageway Studios all month to see works by Jack Martin, but mark down the afternoon of Sunday, November 20 to see Jack’s art while taking in a performance by his great-niece Selina Martin and her band — see the article about them on page 10 of this issue.
Continuing with the arty theme, an exhibition of hand-built ceramics by Marney McDiarmid and silkscreen prints by Jacob Rolfe continues until November 13 at General Fine Craft, Art & Design <generalfinecraft.com>, located at 63 Mill Street in Almonte. Following that, the gallery will be focusing on holiday shopping and bringing in many great new items by Canadian artists that will be perfect for gift-giving. And if you haven’t done so yet, do check out the new location of the gorgeous Sivarulrasa Gallery <sivarulrasa.com> at 34 Mill Street. It’s home to many fine local and Canadian artists, and the solo show by Toronto’s Mary Wong continues there until November 20.
December also comes in like a lion, kicked off by the annual Light Up the Night event on December 2 at 7pm. Mill Street will be closed to vehicles so that thousands of people can gather to hear local entertainers, drink hot cider and enjoy the fireworks. Santa Claus Parades follow on the 3rd in Pakenham and the 4th in Almonte, with the theme of Christmas Sweets and Treats (again with the Nanaimo bars!). Find details at <exploremississippimills.ca>.
Also coming up in December is a very special fundraiser for Almonte’s Puppets Up! Festival. On December 16 and 17, enjoy a raunchy take on Dickens at A (Mississippi Mills) Christmas Carol. The cast of nine puppeteers will take liberties with the original text, using a whole host of the town’s look-alike puppets. Meanwhile, a real human Scrooge and the most adorable little Tiny Tim imaginable will try to hold their own in the face of the latex onslaught… Only in Almonte, you say? Quite possibly! The show is recommended for ages 16 and up, and tickets are available from Baker Bob’s, Mill Street Books, or at <puppetsup.ca/tickets>.
Upon hearing the word “procrastination”, people generally give one of two responses. They either giggle and start making jokes, or they admit that procrastination is a real problem. Of course there is a fortunate minority for whom procrastination is not an issue, and these are the people that procrastinators admire as “go-getters”, “powerhouses” and “success stories”.
The problem with procrastination is that it is often the only obstacle to achieving success — and one that is entirely within our control. People are largely unaware just how pervasive and self-destructive procrastinating behaviours are, let alone what to do about them. They often confuse procrastination with laziness, but procrastinators are not lazy. They are just busy doing something else. In fact, procrastination is a response to anxiety, which involves distraction by various other “displacement activities”. You will often hear people say “I was going to do that, but then something came up.”
In the book It’s About Time: The 6 Styles of Procrastination and How to Overcome Them, Dr. Linda Sapadin identifies six different procrastination styles:
The Perfectionist – “If I can’t get it perfect, I’m not finishing it.”
The Dreamer – “I would rather play and have fun!”
The Worrier – “What if I do this and something bad happens?”
The Defier – “I’ll do it when I’m good and ready.”
The Crisis Maker – “I like the rush of waiting until the last minute.”
The Over-Doer – “I have so much on my plate — there’s no way I will ever get it done.”
Procrastination is a form of self-sabotage and contains elements of both fear of success and fear of failure. It is knowing that we want and need to do a thing, and making sure that it doesn’t get done. It is wanting to do a thing, and then agonizing about not doing it. It also progresses along a predictable cycle:
The knowledge that you want or need to do something
The good intention of starting — and making considerable headway OR completely avoiding an unpleasant situation (such as doing taxes)
Displacement activities
The pressure builds as the deadline approaches
Finally getting it done
It is also part of several mental health profiles including depression and anxiety, and when left unchecked can lead to a profound feeling of hopelessness.
Procrastination inevitably leads to clutter and disorganization. As a Life-Coach and Hypnotist, I am a big fan of Kai-Zen Philosophy, which is the art of taking ridiculously small baby steps towards your goal. An example that most of us can relate to is the state of the home office or art studio. For many it is a repository of clutter, correspondence, glasses, dishes, litter, tools, supplies, laundry, you name it. When we think about how much time and effort it will take to organize it all we feel deflated, depressed and overwhelmed — the henchmen of procrastination.
The Kai-Zen approach would say: do one small thing. That is, every time you walk by your desk, put one thing in the garbage; put one book back where it belongs, pay one bill, fold one piece of clothing, etc. Just the one. Each time you go by, just do one small thing. That one paperclip. Empty the paintbrush water. In this way, we don’t trigger “overwhelmed” (i.e. anxiety) and the task becomes simple. We actually trick ourselves into doing more. We come to the realization that “since I’m here already I might as well…”. And really, any task is just made up of a number of smaller tasks. Nobody said they had to be done all at the same time!
The subconscious mind is very task-oriented, and when we first decide to do a thing, it is similar to opening a program on your computer. Your inner self says “Yes! I want this! Let’s do it!”, but until that task is brought to completion it feeds off your nervous energy (albeit subconsciously). The more tasks that get left undone, the more “windows” are running in the back of your mind, which then register as anxiety, discomfort and depression.
So when we do something towards accomplishment — anything at all — we create the energy of success and completion that the mind is searching for. We feel energized. We lift our mood, freeing up creativity, improving focus and motivation. If you feel that procrastination is holding you back, don’t worry — you are not alone! There are literally hundreds of books on the subject and tens of thousand of professional studies.
Of course a Life-Coach is trained to help you get a grip on that old pattern of procrastination; to stop you compromising your dreams and help you put your best efforts forward so that you get all the success you desire, and deserve!
Whenever November rolls around each year, we take time to remember acts of selflessness and heroism. Some of these acts obviously involved military conflict, as we remember those who fought, and those who continue to fight, for the freedoms we enjoy and too often take for granted.
Heroism comes in many forms. There are the unbelievably powerful stories that we remember from the conflicts during the twentieth century, heroism during the Civil Rights era, and heroism in the face of adversity, in situations like 9/11, to name but a few.
Musicians have always had a prominent voice in the fight against injustice. In both World War I and World War II, musicians were called upon to drum up support for the war effort and to boost morale during the darkest times. One of the songs from this era that has always made an impression on me is White Cliffs of Dover. Despite the hardships of life in England, this song was a beacon of hope with its optimistic message. Songs like this one helped people weather the storm, knowing that a better tomorrow was indeed coming.
During the Civil Rights era, voices such as Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Mavis Staple, Aretha Franklin and many others brought blatantly racist policies to the forefront of our collective imaginations. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words; I believe that a three-minute song can do the same thing. These musicians made a real difference because they used their unique platform to help in the fight, reaching very large audiences. Pete Seeger hit the nail on the head when he said: “A good song reminds us what we’re fighting for.”
We have many musicians who, in my opinion, are heroes today. The fight is different, and sometimes the enemy isn’t as obvious. Some of the battles we still face include trying to combat extremism, and on a more local level, standing up to those in positions of authority who use religious beliefs as a smokescreen to perpetuate acts of bigotry against members of the LGBT community.
Bruce Springsteen was all over the news a little while ago for cancelling a concert in North Carolina due to his opposition to official policies that he felt were discriminatory towards transgendered individuals. When questioned about it, he gave a very thoughtful, measured response, which was also posted on his website:
“To my mind, it’s an attempt by people who cannot stand the progress our country has made in recognizing the human rights of all of our citizens to overturn that progress… Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them. It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.”
This stance was supported by members of his band and crew. They knew that people would be affected by the cancellation, such as arena employees and restaurant staff, but they felt that the issue was too important to ignore. Canadian rocker Bryan Adams also cancelled a show in Mississippi for similar reasons, and was equally clear in his explanation. Many lesser-known artists have also made the same decision in light of these laws. Collectively, these difficult decisions are being made to help fight injustice, which makes them acts of heroism in every sense of the word.
It is important as we take time to remember the sacrifices that our veterans made while fighting for our freedoms, that collectively through many small acts of heroism we can honour what they fought for, and can help bring about meaningful change as we continue to confront injustice. Music just happens to be a great platform for helping to bring about that change.
Let’s face it; fall birding can be a challenge. Everything around us is changing: our summer flowers and plants are beginning to prepare for colder weather and the leaves are changing to their beautiful fall foliage and are descending to the ground below.
Much the same as the physical environment around us, our backyard birds are undergoing changes as well. Stunning breeding plumes and distinctive feathers, often found in the spring and summer months, are long gone, and the overall appearance of many birds has transitioned to a dull colouring, aiding them to blend in with the autumn colours sprouting up all around us.
For birders, this can present a welcome challenge as we take to the field before the last migrants leave, trying to identify what species are still present as well as those who might be passing through on their way south.
Much the same as any other time of year, a keen birder will have a developed an understanding of the key field markings on a variety of species or, in the very least, be able to identify a bird by its shape or taxonomy.
Key Markings
With a good set of binoculars and an endless amount of time to view your subject, it would be seemingly easy to identify any bird. That being said, those perfect conditions are often quite rare, leaving us with a short window of time to make a distinct observation.
The overall shape of the bird is usually your best cue to identifying, in the very least, what group your subject belongs to, such as waterfowl, gulls, hummingbirds, woodpeckers and so on. Aside from that, you will want to have a good look at the bill of the bird, noting the length, thickness and colouring.
The eyes are another vital area at this time of year when plumage can be difficult to decipher. In addition to the eye itself, many birds will still sport markings (albeit faint ones) such as eye lines or rings and a slight colouring in the auriculars which can, in certain species, be a dead giveaway.
Finally, with time on your side, you will want to take note of the wings and back of the bird. Again, many will be without their traditional colours, but will still have faint markings such as spots and streaks that will aid in identification.
Use these tips for reference and always be sure to carry a trusty field guide, which often includes pictures of birds in various times of the year. Utilizing all these tools with a little research beforehand will ensure a pleasurable fall birding experience.
The Last of the Good Years, Lyle Dillabough’s examination of “life, barrooms and small towns in Canada during the 1960s and '70s,” will be presented at The Station Theatre in Smiths Falls on Sunday, November 27 at 2pm. Based on recollections that Lyle (also known as the Valley Troubadour) wrote down while in hospital after a near-death experience, it will feature live music by area musicians who performed back in the '60s and '70s at The Mariner’s Inn, as well as at hotels like The Arlington, The Rideau and The Russell.
All proceeds after expenses will be donated to the Smiths Falls Community Food Bank, and tickets are only $10 at the door (cash only). Doors open at 1:30, and more details can be found at <smithsfallstheatre.com>.
How do you come to own a very successful spa, with two locations and over a hundred staff? If you’re Catherine Wood, you start out milking cows on your family farm outside of Carleton Place, raise a family in rural Pakenham, and spend three decades working as a public administrator with an organization that assists developmentally disabled individuals. Once you’ve made CEO and decided that you have accomplished all you wanted in your chosen field, you begin to contemplate retiring and spending a bit more time at home…
That Entrepreneurial Spirit
As Catherine was nearing the end of her very fulfilling career, her eldest daughter Amy happened to be taking a year’s sabbatical from teaching and was working in a spa/salon in the west end of Ottawa. Amy felt that Catherine’s combination of business and organizational skills, combined with her background of taking care of people, would make her particularly well suited to running a spa. Intrigued, Catherine began exploring the possibility, and that’s where her younger daughter Krystin came into the picture.
At 25, Krystin had studied photography at Humber and was trying to make her way as a freelancer in Toronto in an industry that was changing rapidly, as digital technologies progressed. When her mom called and asked her to consider coming home for six months to help get a new business started, Krystin agreed. As she told me during our interview, “we have that entrepreneurial spirit in our family”. Krystin describes her father Jim, himself an entrepreneur, as “the man behind the successful women”. Catherine adds that: “Jim is always constant in his involvement behind the scenes, as both Krystin and I use him as a sounding board and the idea person. He is great at projecting what’s coming next in business — he plays a vital role in this regard.”
With support from the rest of the family, the mother-daughter team found a property in Stittsville to lease and renovate, and also threw themselves into the task of learning all about an industry that was entirely new to them. As neophytes, they soon found that they were anomalies in the salon world, but their fresh perspective also left them free to imagine a spa experience that was “outside the box” — without a preconceived notion of where the limits of the box even were. The result was the flagship Mahogany Salon & Spa, which opened in downtown Stittsville in 2004.
From Flagship to Mothership
That entrepreneurial spirit served them so well that within a few years Catherine and Krystin began to feel that their business was growing beyond the bounds of its location. Much of the administration and training was taking place at Catherine and Jim’s home, which was even being used for storage. And although they had no plans for a second venue when they opened in Stittsville, they had certainly begun to dream of what they could build and offer if they owned their own larger space as opposed to leasing in a finite downtown location.
Initially they looked at land in Kemptville and Barrhaven, but being from this area they were also aware of the growth in Carleton Place and the expansion of Highway 7 to four lanes. It was actually on a family trip to Krystin’s cottage on Mississippi Lake when her dad looked down from the overpass on Highway 7 and said: “I think that’s where your next spa should be.”Remarkably, the family even has roots that extend back to the quarry that once operated where Mahogany is now located in Carleton Place. When Catherine’s grandfather was a young man, he worked in the quarry that, in the early 1900s, provided rock used to build the first gravel highway to Smiths Falls, as well as some of the grand buildings in town. Catherine’s father, who attended public school nearby, used to swim in the quarry (which was eventually abandoned because water couldn’t be kept out of it), and he even courted Catherine’s mother while skating there in wintertime.
So when it came time for Catherine and Krystin to create their new dream location in Carleton Place, they dreamed big. They asked themselves what they would want a spa to look and feel like, and settled on something reminiscent of an old southern mansion. The spacious — and gracious — building, with its stunning gardens and pond complete with fountain, reflects a destination that the owners feel “the women and men of Carleton Place deserve to go to”. With its larger rooms and spacious indoor and outdoor sitting areas, Mahogany’s new location can accommodate large groups and encourage guests to linger — to take time to relax and be nurtured by both the staff and the peaceful surroundings. Although the Stittsville location is still their flagship, Carleton Place is definitely the mothership.
The Mahogany Experience
No matter how comfortable the surroundings, a spa experience ultimately comes down to an interaction between guests and staff. For Catherine and Krystin, the most important factor is that their guests feel cared for and nurtured by the staff, and the key to that is their own personal involvement in the business. They hire locally, ensuring that staff “have the right heart for the job”, and then provide both training and lots of personal interaction to communicate their values. With over one hundred employees at their two locations, it’s not surprising that the two women organically transitioned into separate but complimentary roles. And although there were a few growing pains as they transitioned from mother and daughter to business partners, their shared family values have provided a solid foundation from which to negotiate their new roles. Twelve years and two locations later, their mutual respect is still a cornerstone of their success.
Mahogany Salon & Spa is located at 369 Napoleon Street in Carleton Place. Catherine, Krystin and their staff invite you to come for some alone time, or with a friend or whole group, and indulge in one service, a half-day or a full-day package. You can find a full list of services at <mahoganysalonandspa.com> or give them a call at 492–3334.
They’re baaaack! Last seen as adversaries in the comical courtroom musical The People vs Mona — as well as the dysfunctional King and Queen in Once Upon a Mattress; rekindling childhood romance over far too many martinis in Fox on the Fairway; or in Noises Off, Anything Goes and several murder mysteries — Michele Eno and Robert Horne are once again paired up as Mary and Bert in the Mississippi Mudds’ latest presentation of the updated Broadway classic Mary Poppins.
With so many productions together, you may be wondering why they are so often paired up… “Probably because we work cheap,” quips Michele. Given that the Mudds are a volunteer group, that seems highly suspect! “I think part of the reason we work well together is that we have a similar vision for the show and work really hard to bring that vision to life,” she adds. “Robert is absolutely a gem to work with. He’s incredibly talented and really dedicated. He sings, he dances and he’s a terrific actor. You could hate him if he wasn’t such a likeable person!”
“There is an incredible amount of trust that has developed between us over the years,” says Robert. “We know that we have each other’s back out there. There is safety in knowing that, no matter what happens, we’ll get through it, and have some fun doing it!”
A case in point happened during a performance of Fox on the Fairway, when Michele broke her foot! “It was incredible to watch,” says Horne. “Michele made it seem like that was supposed to happen! The audience had no idea. She is a joy to watch and even more fun to be on stage with. They say that acting is all about reacting, and Michele gives that in spades.”
Watching the two together during rehearsals, you can tell there is also a very mischievous side to them both. “My first experience working with Robert was many years ago when he had a lead role and I was in the ensemble. Things were not going smoothly at rehearsal and people were getting stressed. The next thing we know, Robert shows up to do his scene sporting a huge, furry fox tail tucked in the back of his pants. That broke the tension for sure!”
Says Horne, “there is an easiness that comes from working together on stage after so many shows. We can critique each other, without worrying about hurt feelings or feeling insulted. More than anything though, I think we just have fun. We have a lot of laughs.”
So, mutual respect, admiration and trust. Isn’t that just like the relationship between Mary Poppins and Bert? “Maybe it is…” says Eno. “Yeah, that or else it’s because we’re just a couple of hams.” Spit spot and cheerio, see you at the show!
Mary Poppins will be performed at the Carleton Place Town Hall at 7:30pm on Friday, November 25, Thursday, December 1, and Friday, December 2, with 2pm matinées on November 26 and 27, as well as December 3. Tickets can be purchased at Hallmark, located at 438 McNeely Avenue in Carleton Place (253–3000). Tickets are $20 for all shows with the exception of Thursday night, which is $15. Visit <mississippimudds.ca> For more information. Mary Poppins is performed by special permission of Music Theatre International.
From Darkness into Light
At this time of the year we often get up in complete darkness. If we look carefully, we will see the first light — perhaps a pale patch of pink shining through the bare maple trees — and daylight soon appears. The Advent Carol Service at St. James’ Anglican Church starts quietly and mysteriously in darkness, with the choir bringing the first light as they process around the church singing and bearing candles. As they pause for scripture to be read, the darkness gradually recedes until the church is filled with light, and the coming of Christ, the Light of the World, is proclaimed in the last reading.
The season of Advent is a special time in the Church calendar that allows Christians to step aside and quietly wait for the coming of Jesus Christ — both to celebrate his arrival on Earth as a baby two thousand years ago, and to prepare for his coming again at the end of time. One of the anthems, by the 16th century composer Palestrina, sets the tone. “I look from afar; and lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering the whole earth. Go ye out and meet him…” It is echoed in the hymns the choir and congregation sing together, including “Hark a herald voice is sounding: Christ is nigh it seems to say. Cast away the dreams of darkness, O ye children of the day!”
Other anthems this year include Come Thou, Redeemer of the Earth by a contemporary of Palestrina’s — Michael Praetorius — and Christe Redemptor Omnium, a 6th century hymn set to music a millennium later by Monteverdi. The Advent service takes place on Sunday, November 27 at 4pm.
Three weeks later, on Sunday, December 18 at 7:30pm, the choirs of St. James’ Anglican Church and St. Paul’s United Church unite at St. James’ to present the annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. These two glorious services offer music, prayer and time for reflection, providing a meaningful focus at the beginning of a new Christian year.
Everyone is welcome at both services, and to attend on Sundays at 8am and 10am. St. James’ Church is located on the corner of Drummond and Harvey Streets in Perth. For more information, contact the church office at 267–1163 or check the website <stjamesperth.ca>.
The Town Singers Present “Christmas Memories”
The first few notes of a Christmas song can often bring forth a rush of happy memories of holidays past, including family sing-a-longs, carollers at the front door, or the smell of holiday treats fresh from the oven.
This year, the Town Singers will present a variety of songs (old and new) that they hope will help you relive your fondest Christmas memories. Classics such as Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me and Blue Christmas will be paired with more traditional melodies like Sing We Now of Christmas and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. The choir even has plans to share a few special holiday memories of some of their singers and audience members too!
Please join emcee Rob Probert and the Town Singers this year at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Bridge Street in Carleton Place, on December 4 and 6 at 7pm. Tickets ($12) will be on sale in early November in both Carleton Place and Almonte. For more details, please visit <cptownsingers.com>. Don’t be disappointed — get your tickets soon.
A Christmas Kaleidoscope
The West Ottawa Ladies Chorus (WOLC) is presenting a kaleidoscope of colourful tones to celebrate the season of winter and Christmas. A Christmas Kaleidoscope will delight the audience and please a variety of musical tastes. The chorus works diligently to blend soprano, second soprano and first and second alto into a seamless sound. Under the direction of Robert Dueck, the WOLC strives for the highest standards from the top ranges to the lowest notes. Blending notes, like colours, creates patterns of sound — a kaleidoscope.
This season, the audience will experience colourful tunes from spiritual to jazz to rag to show tunes. There will surely be toe tapping along with silent reflection. Although the concert is a celebration of Christmas, it is also a celebration of winter and will appeal to different cultures — music for everyone.
The WOLC is committed to giving back to the community; they visit several seniors’ residences, bringing the gift of music to those who may not be able to attend a public performance. The smiles on the faces of the residents reward the singers, as does the joy of hearing the audience join in to sing popular numbers.
At each performance, the chorus invites special guests, to add variety to the program. This year, Gracenote — a spiritual trio comprised of Lynn Lane, Allison Fagan and Diane Coulterman, accompanied by Andy Duffy on keyboard — will join the chorus.
A Christmas Kaleidoscope is mixing it up to present a colourful evening of sounds of the season. Performances are on Saturday, December 3 at 7pm at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 20 Young Road in Kanata; and Sunday the 4th at 2:30pm at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1817 Richardson Side Road in Carp. Tickets are available now. Find more details at <westottawaladieschorus@gmail.com>.
If BBC’s reality TV show The Great Pottery Throwdown, high-profile art competitions like RBC’s Emerging Artist Peoples Choice Awards, and numerous prestigious international ceramics competitions are any indication, clay is now being acknowledged as a valued contemporary medium that is increasingly popular with artists, audiences and collectors. Ceramic work has spread its wings and is catching some well-deserved limelight! The ceramic world has become… well… something akin to sexy!
But this is something that the members of 260 Fingers have known for decades, and celebrating high-calibre ceramic work is the reason this special exhibition and sale was established twelve years ago. This November 11 to 13, the twenty-six ceramic artists and potters of 260 Fingers 2016 will congregate at Ottawa’s Glebe Community Centre for their annual exhibition and sale of some of the most inspiring and diverse ceramic work from Ontario and western Quebec. The breadth and calibre of this show have resulted in it being recognized as unique in the province; the show features work that runs from functional to sculptural, wood-fired to electric-fired, from formal, to functional, to highly decorative.
And did you realize that six of these clay-workers live in our midst? From the Almonte area: the delightful yet emotionally-charged narrative work of Chandler Swain, the architectural forms of Saskia Praamsma that have been inspired by her travels, and the fine, slip-trailed surfaces of Teresa Wingar’s pots, influenced by the work of William Morris. From the wooded hills of Brooke Valley west of Perth will come the beautiful and distinct tableware of Rita Redner’s subtle soda-fired work, Anne Chambers’ gas-fired porcelain, and the enigmatic, elemental sculptural work of Susie Osler. The great diversity of the work produced by just these 60 fingers is a reflection of the exhibition as a whole. 260 Fingers is truly a celebration of clay and how an artist can use the material in a way particular to their own vision.
The vernissage on Friday, November 11, from 6 to 9pm, is open to everyone and is a festive celebration of ceramic work, complete with music, food, drink and lively conversation. The show continues November 12 and 13 from 10am to 5pm. Artists will be present all weekend. Tours of the show are each afternoon at 2pm and offer an opportunity to hear about each artist’s unique work and processes and to ask any questions you may have about their work and studio practice.
260 Fingers is a free event. For more information, visit <260fingers.ca>.
Art… and Soul
The human penchant for jewellery/jewellery (either is correct spelling in Canada) literally knows no beginning and it certainly isn’t coming to an end. A quote from <glamour.com> says it all: “Finally, we've passed the point of stigma, and having multiple piercings (or tattoos) is becoming seen and valued as a vehicle of self-expression.”
For those of us who shudder at the current trends of adorning our bodies in more-or-less permanent fashion with tattoos, piercings, insertions, attachments, and ever more inventive and invasive options, wearable jewellery remains a much more appealing alternative.
Wendy Southin’s “altered art” jewellery is eminently wearable and offers a multitude of opportunities to express yourself. As a bird photographer, I was delighted to receive a gift (the editor of theHumm has impeccable taste) of a Southin necklace featuring a bird’s nest with three “eggs” and two birds. Fashioned primarily from copper wire, the chain comprises four different variations of style and size and is both easily and beautifully adjustable. I have never seen another one like it, and every time I wear it, it occasions a chance remark from an observer that leads to a delightful conversation about birding, jewellery and/or random thoughts about life. That’s a remarkable payoff from an eminently affordable necklace.
Treasure Hunts
Southin believes in offering unusual art at accessible prices, and follows her conviction by creating jewellery and other art objects from inexpensive and found objects. Her husband, Tom, encourages and aids her. He specializes in finding interesting items at auctions, yard sales and second-hand shops, and Wendy incorporates many of them into her pieces. If you look closely at her jewellery, you can find belt buckles, watch faces, gears, beads, keys, buttons and components of vintage jewellery. When Tom goes collecting, Wendy is delighted with the gifts he brings home; when she goes, she regrets not buying all the delightful prospective art supplies she saw.
The endless possibilities that found objects present encouraged Wendy to expand her artistic endeavours. In addition to her jewellery she creates wall art, booklets and cards that she describes as “altered art”. She feels the label is more appropriate than mixed media because of the way she incorporates extensive layering of found objects with more conventional art materials. Another term that could be applied is structural collage, but call them what you may, they provide endless opportunities to repurpose bits of someone’s life into a unique work of art. It was that potential that eventually led Wendy to offer workshops to help others create personalized jewellery and altered art that would have special meaning for them.
What Are Friends For?
Wendy’s fulfilling achievement of building a thriving business lends credence to a familiar maxim: “Instant success takes a long time.” It’s a heartwarming story of friendship, courage, perseverance and talent. Raised in Richmond, only a few minutes from where she lives now in Munster, Wendy took up the decorative folk art of tole painting and started selling decorated ceramics in her 20s while she was a stay-at-home mom raising the couple’s two boys.
Eventually, friends insisted that she teach them how to do it, and she gradually gained confidence in her artistic talents. She began to experiment by creating original works with new media. She had bought a lot of supplies for scrapbooking, but found it too limiting and soon turned it into “something of my own” as she invented her layered altered art. From handmade gilded paper flowers to gel plate printing, she developed an arsenal of skills to satisfy and fuel her creative drives.
Her love for creating original copper jewellery bloomed as the result of another friend’s plea to accompany her to Pennsylvania to attend a week-long jewellers’ conference. Copper became an inseparable part of Southin’s life; it is affordable, beautiful and easy to work with. Part of the attraction has been learning all the ways in which this flexible medium can be embellished. She has learned how to emboss and etch copper, how to work with resin, how to make rivets and cold connections, and how to fashion very adaptable and comfortable copper wire forms, chains and hooks.
Courage!
What makes a self-proclaimed introvert into a successful workshop leader? It took a lot of courage for Wendy to begin teaching others, but again, friends prevailed. When she returned home beaming after conducting a workshop with fifteen attendees, Tom was suitably impressed. Now she offers full-day workshops on a frequent basis from her new, very-well-stocked home studio at 3557 Munster Road. In addition to lunch, Wendy provides access to a treasure trove of found objects and other materials with which to create your own art works and jewellery. She encourages participants to bring items that hold special significance for them. Whether it’s on your arm or on your wall, a very personal touch keeps it special over time.
On November 5 and 6, Wendy Southin is participating in the Art Journey Show and Sale at the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre at 71 Cornelia Street West. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the works of sixteen talented local artists, and it sure beats doing your holiday shopping at box stores. On November 27 she is hosting four other local artisans at her Dragonfly Dreamers Studio, so please check the back of her Trading Card to learn about all the options to connect with Wendy Southin, her innovative art and jewellery, and her stress-free workshops.
The selection of establishments and topics for this column is somewhat random and often prompted by informants. In general, Weetabix knows what to expect of an establishment and is happy to explore various aspects of its offerings. We report on both opinion and experience. Tips from reliable informants are followed up and so, having heard that there is something interesting about Pizza-Ria Unlimited in Almonte, we stopped in for what was intended to be a quick lunch. Truth be told, the rumour of Indian food as a sideline of a pizza joint intrigued us and raised a number of questions such as: “Why?”… and “What?”… and “Why?” Weetabix is a serious fan of Indian cuisine and has had the pleasure of dining in some truly outstanding establishments. Our expectations were modest and were completely wrong. We were and remain impressed and delighted by GREAT FOOD.
Operating in quasi stealth mode under the camouflage of pizza is the kernel of what may become a truly fine “destination restaurant”. The food is extraordinary and, while the menu is short, the items sampled easily qualify for the top echelon of Indian food offerings in the greater Ottawa area. Chef Roopesh Kakkat (Roop) and his partner Shinu Unnikrishnan (Shinu) are not amateurs, and the menu is well thought out. But first, a few words about pizza.
Unable to resist, we did have a slice of the “meat lovers” special while waiting for our order to be prepared. It really is excellent. Pizza is not generally classified as gourmet food, but these guys have elevated it with a fusion of Indian and Italian themes. Butter Chicken Pizza, Chicken Bollywood and, yes, even a Donair Pizza, compete to be your new favourite flavour combination and, truth be told, Weetabix made a repeat visit for pizza as a matter of diligence. Our efforts on behalf of our readers extend to gluttonous self-sacrifice! Do not miss the ribs and wings either (we didn’t!). Wings are baked (not deep-fried) and enhanced by a superbly flavoured sauce.
There is a small seating area, but at this stage in the restaurant’s development, we recommend take-out. On the other hand, even the loud equipment noise from the open kitchen and the spartan ambience should not discourage one from enjoying the food. And enjoy it you will. Chef Roop prepares everything to order and can tailor spicing to your tastes — his Indian food is not about sweat-inducing heat; it is about the subtle and complex palette of a deep culinary tradition developed over centuries of cultural cross-pollination. Knowledgeable preparation and impeccable tasting skills combine quality ingredients to produce results that distinguish a true culinary talent from mere cooking.
Anybody with reasonable dexterity, patience and the ability to follow instructions can cook. With a bit of practice, reasonable or even very good results can be achieved at home. Doing it in a restaurant setting requires a completely different set of skills, and any decent restaurant relies on a level of professional skill that is daunting to those of us who fancy ourselves as good cooks (Weetabix is one such). Excellence and innovation in cuisine are as rare as in any other field. Truly outstanding chefs are rightly celebrated for their achievements. They are as unusual as their offerings and have many routes to success. After learning to cook at his mother’s side, Roopesh Kakkat received rigorous formal training at Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (in Manipal, India) and has both a degree in hotel management and the prestigious Red Seal Certification as a Chef. From 2005 through 2015 he held positions in restaurant management at numerous hotels and travelled widely as a senior member of the culinary staff on two cruise ships. He met Shinu in India, and they both came to Canada in 2010, where their paths diverged for a while. Then, earlier this year they decided to return to the Ottawa Valley. After looking for premises that were already set up for restaurant operations, they leased a spot on Bridge Street, across from the Old Town Hall. Weetabix thinks this is a stroke of good luck for Almonte.
Indian cuisine is highly evolved and subtly incorporates multiple historical influences. It also adapts and contributes to other culinary styles; even the French with their deep tradition of classical European style have adapted and co-opted elements from the Indian syllabus. Tradition-bound as they sometimes appear (especially in matters of food), the English have also taken to Indian cuisine. So it was somewhat surprising to Weetabix that there was no Indian restaurant in Humm territory, despite several restaurants offering some quite nice curries and related dishes. This gap has now been filled, and not just with another steam-table of what we have come to recognize as the stereotypical Indian buffet (if you are already familiar with Indian restaurants in the Ottawa area, you know what we mean).
Chef Roop cooks to order and has an evident mastery of the subtleties of spicing. We ordered two dishes on our initial investigative visit (follow-up visits are required and anticipated eagerly): a beef korma and a chicken vindaloo, both standard offerings in Indian restaurants. There was nothing “standard” in the food that was presented. Starting with the side dishes — each plate came with a generous bowl of the main offering and a side of rice and naan (an Indian flatbread). The rice was delicately and wonderfully flavoured with a complex mixture of spices — visual interest was contributed by black cumin seeds, and the rice itself was cooked to perfection. The naan was soft, buttery and warm. As for the dishes themselves, both were outstanding — among the best Weetabix has encountered in years of enjoying Indian food. We are comfortable in stating that if this quality of food is maintained, Chef Roop has a base from which a notable restaurant can develop. It is early days and there are many risks in growing a restaurant business, but spectacularly good food, determination and knowledge of the business are good starting points.
Restaurants seldom operate in stealth mode, but this is a new business for a new market. Chef Roop and Shinu are ambitious and mindful of the imperatives of business. The first imperative is positive cash flow, and the Pizza-ria formula of an excellent product combined with aggressive pricing and an unusual strategy (toppings are included and delivery is free) has demonstrated its capability to generate profitable sales. The hidden gem, an outstanding Indian restaurant, is still developing. Gem-quality crystals grow in geological time. We expect that the development of Chef Roop’s vision will be much faster.
So, dear reader — it is now within your grasp to do well by doing good. Treat yourself to Indian food or order a great pizza and you can reap an immediate gustatory reward while contributing to the growth of this enterprise. Word of mouth is, literally and ultimately, the key to success in the food business. Weetabix is seldom as enthusiastic about the prospects of a food establishment, as evidenced by this article. We are convinced that the potential is there and look forward to making a personal contribution to its development through our custom. Go soon and often!
Disclaimer: Neither Weetabix nor any affiliates of Weetabix have any financial interest in Pizza-Ria Unlimited.